Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation
8/8
1.e4c62.d4d53.Nd2dxe44.Nxe4Nd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation1.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
53%750k50%
11%157k53%
9.9%140k56%
6.7%95k52%
3.1%44k51%
2.7%38k50%
1.9%26k46%
1.5%21k49%
0.9%13k46%
Famous games in this line6.8k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2864) – Morozevich, Alexander (2760)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Duda, J. (2724) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Svidler, P. (2765) – Anand, V. (2782)Kasparov, Garry (2800) – Karpov, Anatoly (2740)Anand, Viswanathan (2765) – Karpov, Anatoly (2760)Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2736) – Anand, Viswanathan (2788)Polgar, Judit (2735) – Anand, Viswanathan (2788)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Anand, Viswanathan
- Family
- Caro-Kann Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B17
- Line
- 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7
Solid
★ Read the guide: Caro-Kann DefenseExplore all 110 Caro-Kann Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation5.Ng5 · 2 deeper linesCaro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Modern Variation, Ivanchuk Defense5.Ng5 Ndf6Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Tiviakov-Fischer Attack5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Nxf6 Nxf6Caro-Kann Defense: Karpov Variation, Smyslov Variation5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 · 1 deeper line
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
Horatio Caro and Marcus Kann gave the defence its play in the 1880s; the joint name first appears in print in 1890. It became the fortress of positional world champions — Botvinnik took it into world-championship matches, and Petrosian and Karpov made careers of it. Its promise: the French's solidity WITHOUT burying the light-squared bishop, paid for with a tempo.
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